Travelling to Central Asia: Pressures Of The Planning Process

We have 3 months left before our teaching English contract here in China is up and we’ve officially started planning for our next trip!

It’s turning out to be quite the process. We knew that travelling to one of the least touristy regions on the planet would present some difficulties, but it has still surprised us just how much has to go into this trip.

The visas in post-Soviet Central Asia are becoming easier to obtain, but this doesn’t mean they’re easy.

In this region of the world, we need a visa (entrance permit stamped in our passport) for every country we’re visiting except for Kyrgyzstan.

These permits have to be obtained before arriving and often require hotel bookings, train tickets in and out of the country and sometimes even a letter of invitation from a company in the country we hope to visit.

Visa Budget Backpackers
Visas – Easy In Some Countries… Not Easy In Central Asia.

We spend our free time working on the website and planning for our next trip through Mongolia, Russia, Central Asia and possibly Europe.

Our days off have been spent on Skype, calling embassies, waiting on hold, choosing routes, reserving train seats, booking flights and trying to lock down dates. This is definitely not our usual method of travel. We usually enjoy a spontaneous, free travel style but in Central Asia this isn’t always possible!

But, we’re going to do it and we’re extremely excited about it.

We know that all of our efforts beforehand are going to be worth it! The good news for our readers is that once we blaze the trail, we’re going to post all of the information about obtaining visas, trains, and transport throughout the region to make it much easier for other people hoping to do the same trip.

planning trip central asia
The Planning Process

Central Asia is one of the last frontiers of travel, and although it’s not easy to enter, we’ve heard from other travellers that it’s a true mecca of independent travel.

A mixture of cultures spans the Silk Road colliding over one of the most infamous trade routes of all time. There are stunning mosques, towering mountains and huge empty grasslands where people still live a nomadic lifestyle. We can’t wait to mount a horse, grab our trekking poles and join them.

Our goal is to find our way off the beaten path, in this already off the beaten path destination. We want to trek into the wilderness, stay with local families in yurts, and find our own way through this amazingly untouched region.

Along the way, we’re going to write about our experiences and the pros and cons of travel in this part of the world.

Make sure you stick around, it’s sure to be an amazing and extremely interesting journey!

Like this Post? Pin it!



Travelling to Central Asia: Pressures Of The Planning Process

Written by

Dariece Swift

Dariece is a co-founder of Goats On The Road, and an expert in saving money, finance management, building an online business and of course... travel. She loves meeting new people, trying new cuisines, and learning about the unique cultures of our world. She has over 10 years of experience helping others to realize their travel dreams and has worked in numerous jobs all over the world to help pay for travel. Her advice about long-term travel, remote work, and location independence has been featured on the Lonely Planet, CNN Money, Business Insider and Forbes. Learn more about Dariece Swift on the Goats On The Road About Us Page.

Related Posts

panoramic view of matera italy.heic

15 Best Things To Do in Matera in 2023

The historical city of Matera should feature prominently on your southern Italy travel itinerary. With caves transformed into chic accommodations, fun restaurants and bars built into rocky outcrops, and a history like no other, there are numerous things to do in Matera. Nick and I recently spent 5 days exploring the narrow alleyways, dining on ...
Zakynthos Greece Shipwreck Cove

15 Best Things To Do in Zakynthos in 2023

There are so many things to do in Zakynthos (Zante) and I’m going to share our top 15 favorites in this post. This island is definitely one of the best places to visit in Greece. When you hear the name Greece, it likely conjures up images of the white sand beaches of Crete, the stone ...
Aerial view of Kotor Bay and Old Town at sunset.

Digital Nomad Guide to Living in Montenegro

In this digital nomad guide to Montenegro, I’ll cover the ins and outs of digital nomad life in this beautiful country. From safety and where to live, to the best coworking spaces and things to do, you’ll find out all you need to know within this article. About Montenegro Montenegro (translated literally as ‘Black Mountain’), ...